RAFB New Walk-In Bone Marrow Donor Site

MACON,Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Robins Air Force Base is the first air force base in the state to establish a bone marrow registry site.

The new walk-in location is a part of the Department of Defense’s way of getting the necessary bone morrow donors they need for injured military men and women.

The 78th medical group of Robins Air Force Base “Salute to Life Initiative” is designed to save the lives of those in need of a bone marrow transplant.

Nearly 70 percent of those needing, a bone marrow transplant, because they have Luekemia or Aplastic Anemia, cannot find a match.

“Anybody can register, anybody between the ages of 18 and 60, and it’s open to military members their family members retirees, contractors, and civilians, and anybody in their family who have access of this base can come in and register to be a bone marrow donor.,” said 1st Lt. Melissa Campos.

Walk- in -registration procedure takes less than five minutes. Potential donors complete a two page consent form and have the inside of their mouths swabbed.

The department of defense chose to open the walk-in-site at Robins Air Force Base because of its diverse population. The medical lab sees more than 100 patients per month.

There are more than 23,000 people working at Robins Air Force Base. The base’s medical facility treats more than 100 patients per month.

Base officials are encouraging more people to become bone marrow donors, to help the growing number of people in need of a transplant.